Improving science education in Indonesia through action research: A collaboration between science teachers and teacher educators

1) To improve Indonesian teachers’ and teacher educators’ understanding of the principles and methodology of action research in developing students’ cognitive understanding
2) To design and evaluate a program for developing teachers’ understanding of the principles and methodology of action research

This project is expected to contribute to raising the quality of science teaching in Indonesia by directing teachers’ attention to the extent to which their classroom practices affect students’ conceptual understanding. The ‘inquiry mindset’ experienced by teachers in action research (Seider & Lemma, 2004) is likely to start Indonesian science teachers on a more reflective journey in their professional development. The key finding in this study will be teachers' beliefs and awareness of action research in their science classrooms.